Process of forging axles



NOV- 19, 1929. v F. H. MoYER 1,736,321

PROCESS OF FORGNG AXLES Elttczmga NOV. 19, 1929. F. H. MoYER l 1,736,321

PROCESS OF FORGING AXLES Filed April 28, 1926 4 lSheets-Sheet 2.

NOV. 19, 1929-. -F, H, MOYER 1,736,321

PROCESS OF FORGING AXLES Filed April 28. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l jfl@ v N I gg Patented Nov. 19, 1929 @UNITED STATES FREDELLLA H. MOYER, F CANTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO CENTRAL ALLOY STEEL COB- PORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK PROCESS OF FORG'ING- .AXLES Application iiled April 28, 1926. Serial No. 105,131.

The invention relates to a method of forging elongated articles such as automobile axles and the like and the improvement has for its object the provision of means whereby 6 a bar blank is first heated and then rough forged to substantially the desired shape in a series of passes through a forging mill, and

afterwards pressed or hammered to theiinished shape. f

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a diagrammatic View of the apparatus used in carrying out the invention;

Fig. 2, a front elevation of one of the improved forging mills;

Fig. 3, a section through the mill, taken substantially on the line 3 3, ig. 2; v

Fig. 4, an elevation of the dies used in the 20 forging mill;

Fig. 5, an edge view of the dies, and

Fig. 6, an elevation of the partially finished product showing the different steps or stages through which it passes.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawing.

In carrying out the invention, la suitable heating furnace 1, is provided for heating the bar blanks, a stand 2 being located between the furnace and the forging mill for receiving the heated bar blanks in convenient position for the operator of the mill.

The rough-forging is produced through a series of passes in the forging mill or mills. All of these passes may be provided for in a single mill or, as shown in Figure 1, the iirst three passes may be made through one mill indicated at 3, and the remaining passes through another mill, indicated at 4, a stand 5 being located between the mills to receive the partially completed product from the rst mill in position to be easily handled by the operator of the second mill.

The rough forgings from the mill 4, are placed upon the stand 6, from which they are removed to a steam hammer or press 7 for the finish forging, which is necessary to straighten the piece, after which the forg- 50 ing is passed to the stand 8 and then to the cracker 9 where the ends are cropped, or the forging may be hot sawed to length.

An important part of the process resides in the roll forging mill, illustrated in detail in Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive. This mill includes a pair of` housings 10, in which are journaled the upper and lower rolls 11 and4 12 respectively, the shafts of which are geared together as indicated at 13.

These rolls may be driven, in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 3, by any suitable means, such as the large gear 14, upon the lower roll shaft, meshing with a pinion l5, upon the shaft 16. f

A balance wheel 17 may be carried by this shaft and a gear 18 may also be mounted thereon and driven in any usual manner as by the.motor 19.

As best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the

rolls l1 and 12 are separated and each carries a forging die 20 covering substantially 180 degrees of its circumference, these dies being arranged to cooperate to produce the rough forging.

Each of these dies is provided with a similar series of circumferentialgrooves through v which the bar blank is passed in succession to produce the desired finished shape. These grooves are indicated from left to right by the numerals 21 to 27 inclusive and comprise the seven passes through which the product is passed as shown at 21a to 27a inclusive in Fig. 6.

As above mentioned all of these passes may be provided for in a single mill, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, or as shown in Fig. 4, there may be two sets of dies 20, each containing a portion of the necessary rooves, one set of these dies being carried y each of two mills as shown in Figure 1.

A rest 28 may be carried between the housings 10, forward of the rolls and a stop 29 may be located in rear of the rolls.

In `carrying out the rough forging, the bar blank or partially completed product, shown at A, in Fig. 3, is gripped by tongs B, in the hands of the operator, and passed over the rest 28, between the rolls when in substantially the position shown in said figure, the end of the bar being limited by the stop 29.

As the rolls continue to revolve the dies 20 will grip the bar and roll the same outward, toward the operator, rolling the product to the shape of the grooves therein. The bar is given one or more passes through each set of grooves in the dies, finally emerging in the form shown at 27a.

Since it is very diiiicult to roll forge the axles or other parts to exact measurements on account of the inaccuracy of rolling, caused by the operator not being able to hold and turn the blank or bar exactly the same for each pass in the rolling operation, it is necessary to give the piece a finishi forging operation in the hammer or press to produce axles and the like of la predetermined duplicate size as well as to straighten them from the roll forging operation.

As the bar or partly finished product may be given a turn, upon its axis, between each Y rolling operation, there will beno lin formed upon the same, as is common in the usual method of drop forging articles of this kind.

With this method, a better forging is produced in less time and at less cost than with the ordinary method, the parts passing through all of the operations after a single, initial heating.

The bar blanks are heated in the furnace 1, to approximately 2400" F., and after passing through the first mill 3 and paced upon the stand 5, the ytemperature of the partly finished product is about 2200 F. After` passing through the second mill 4, and to the hammer 7, the temperature of the product is aboutV 2000 F. i

It should be understood that the above temperatures do not have to be absolutely adhered to in order to satisfactorily carry out the improved forging process, as the temperature in each instance may vary through a range of 100 F. in either direction without defeating the urpose of the invention.

While the orging process is being carried on steam is blow across the product and the lower die to remove scale, and the piece is rotated, resulting in a finished smoothness on the entire surface of the product.

As well shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, certain of the roll forging operations produced b passing the heated bar through the series o grooves 21 to 25, inclusive, produce an elongation and a tapering of the bar in one direction from a predetermined intermediate point as shown at 21a, 22, 23, 24a and 25; and by then passing the bar 25a through the series of grooves 26 and 27 in the cooperating rolls, a tapering elongation is produced from the same predetermined intermediate point in the other direction as shown at 26a and 27a.

I claim:

1. The method of forging axles and the like which consists in heating -a bar, passing the heated bar through rolls having a series of grooves to produce substantially the de- .sired finished shape in the bar, and then hammering or pressing the bar .to make it conform to a predetermined duplicate size and also straighten it from the roll forging operation.

2. The method of forging axles and the like which consists in heatinga bar, passing the heated bar through rolls having a series of. grooves to produce substantially the desired finished sha e in the bar, and then hammering the bar for straightening the same without reheating.

3. The method of forging axles and the like which consists in heating a bar, passing the heated bar through a series of grooves in cooperating rolls, rotating the bar upon its axis between each pass, and then hammering the bar for straightening the same.

4. The method of forging axles and the like which consists in heating a bar, passing the heated bar through rolls having a series of grooves to produce substantially the desired shape in the bar, and then hammering the bar forl straightening the same and rotating the bar upon its axis between blows of the hammer. Y

5. The method of forging axles and the like which consists in heating a bar, passing the heated bar through rolls having a series of grooves to produce substantially the desired shape in the bar, and then hammering the bar for straightening the same and blowing steam upon the bar during the hammering operation.

6. The method of forging axles and the like, which consists in heating a bar, passing the heated bar through a series of grooves 1n cooperating rolls to produce an elongation and a tapering of the bar in one direction from a predetermined intermediate point, rotating the bar upon its axis between each pass, then passing the bar through a series of roll grooves to produce a tapering elongation from the same predetermined intermediate point in the other direction, rotating the bar upon its axis between each pass, and then subjecting the bar to successive pressure applications for straightening the same.

7. The method of forging axles and the like, which consists in heating a bar, passing the heated bar through a series of grooves in cooperating rolls, rotating the bar upon its axis between each pass, and then subjecting the bar to successive pressure applications for straightening the same, all without reheating the bar after the initial heat. f

8. The method of forging axles and the like, which consists in heating a bar, passing the heated bar through a series of grooves in cooperating rolls to produce an elongation and a tapering of the bar from a predetermined intermediate point toward one end, rotating the bar upon its axis between each pass, then passing the bar through cooperating rolls to produce an elongation, and a madam tapering of the bar in the opposite direction from the predetermined intermediate point,

rotating the bar upon its axis between each pass, and then subjecting the bar to successive i pressure applications for straightening the same and for bringing the bar to the desired finished lsize and shape, all without reheating the bar after the initial heat.

In testimony that I claim the above, I have hereunto subscribed m name.

FREDE LIA H. MOYER. 

